Latch bolt keeper



Feb. 24, 1953 J ROETHEL 2,629,620

LATCH BOLT KEEPER Filed Nov. 12, 1949 f5 i INVENToR. mi E215. Jy# /f,ffff T53 Patented Feb. 24, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RoethelEngineering Corporation,

Detroit,

Mich., a corporation of `Michigan Application November 12, 1949,]SerialNo..126,869

Claims.

vThis invention relates to latch bolt keeper mechanism of the typeconstructed and arranged to be engaged by a multi-toothed latch bolt ofa rotary latch mechanism mounted on a swinging door, especially a doorof an automobile or other Vehicle body, an object of the invention beingto provide an improved latch boltkeeper mechanism which is characterizedby its simplicity and compactness in construction, its ability towithstand the numerous impacts of the latchbolt as the door visrepeatedly opened and closed, its resistance to wear at the points offrictonal engagement with the latch bolt, and its eiiciency in Vholdingthe door firmly against movement in a vertical plane while the vehicleis in operation.

A further objectof thisinventionisto provide a latch bolt keepermechanism havinga frame member which may be fabricated from metalstampings, or formed as a v,diecastingof suitable material, or moldedfroma plastic composition material, and to which frame member a wearresistant metal plate member is fastened, said plate member having teethformed thereon for engagement with the multi-toothed latch bolt of arotary latch mechanism.

A further object of this invention is to provide a latch-bolt keepermechanism having either .a fabricated steel, a die cast metal, oraemolded plastic frame member to which is fastened a plate member havingteeth formed thereon adapted to engage the multi-toothedlatch bolt of arotary latch mechanism mounted on a swinging doorof a vehicle, and onwhich frame member is mounted wedge shaped take-up means adapted tocooperate with an abutment means on the door when the door is in closedposition and which will effectively and firmly maintain the door againstmovement in a vertical plane while the vehicle is in motion.

Other objects of this inventionvvilll appear'in the followingdescription and appended claims, reference being had to the4accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification'wherein likereference characters designate corresponding Yparts in the severalviews.

Fig. l1 is a fragmentary side elevationof an automobile body equippedAwith a latch vbolt keeper mechanism constructed in accordance with thepresent invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary'vertical section taken substantiallyVthrough-lines '2-12 yof Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrowsand illustrating -a latch bolt keeper mechanism Aconstructed inaccordance with one embodimentoi the invention.

Fig. 3 is a section taken substantially through lines 3-'3 of Fig. 2looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical View taken substantially through lines2-2 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows and illustrating alatch bolt keeper mechanism constructed'in accordance with a secondembodiment of the invention.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation ofthe device` shown in Fig.4.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending applicationSerial No. 75,523, led February 10,1949, no w abandoned.

"Before explaining in detail the present invention it is to beunderstood that the invention is not limited in its application to thedetails of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in theaccompanyingdrawings, since the invention is capableof other embodimentsand o f being practiced or carried ,out in various ways. Also it is tobeunderstood that the phraseology or `terminology employed'herein is forthe purpose of 'description and not oflimitation.

Thelatch bolt keeper device,lgenerally designated as.I0, constructed inaccordance with the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1to.3 is shown mounted on the fixed jamb face or edge'II of a door framepost or'body pillar. The multi-toothedlatch bolt I2 which engages the'keeper when the door is closed is shown projecting outwardly from theselvage plate I3 of a rotary latch mechanism mounted Within the vehicledoor I4. Inasmuch as'the interior actuatin g and operating means for therotary latch bolt form no part ,of the present invention, such meansarev not here illustrated or described.

"The keeper device I0 is held in place on the jamb face I Iby screws I5.The jamb face of the bo'dyLpillar is recessed, as at I5, to receive thebody portion or frameV member Il of the keeper device. The screwsl'penetrate throughholes in the jamb face II'andare threaded into iixednuts I8 carried by a sheet-metal mem-ber VI9 called a tapping cage. Thetapping cage I=9-is shaped to tthe'outer wallof'the jamb face-recess I6and serves the dual function of` reinforcing the jamb wall lwhere'the`keeper device is mounted and of providing .suicient metal vthicknessfor the tapping of'threads to -holdthe screws I5.

The keeper device I-0 is comprised of fthree major elements, ltheframemember I'I. a plate member 20 and AAa-slidablewedge 2|. The cooperativerelationshipfofthese partswill become apparent as the constructionand-operation of the device is lhereinafter explained.

The frame member I1 is preferably a sheet metal stamping and has avertical back wall 22 connecting two parallel horizontal walls 23 and 24and an end wall 25, thus forming a generally C-shaped receptacle orcasing having its outer side open and its inner vertical back sideclosed. This casing is Shaped to receive the latch bolt when the door isin closed position, as is clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3. At their frontedges the parallel walls 23 and 24 are vertically and reversely flanged,the flanges 26 and 21 providing surfaces Vagainst which the plate member20 bears and through which the screws I penetrate in holding the deviceagainst the jamb face II.

The lower wall 24 provides a slideway for the slidable wedge 2|. Thiswedge, which is preferably made of a non-metallic material such as hardrubber or plastic composition has the important function of preventingmovement of the door in a vertical plane while the vehicle is in motion,as will be hereinafter explained.

It will be noticed especially in Fig, 2 that the wedge 2| is urgedtoward the open end of the frame member on casing I1 by a spring 28 oneend of which abuts the end wall 25. The end wall 25 has an embossment 29struck inwardly therefrom to retain the spring in proper position. Theother end of the spring is seated within a recess 30 in the wedge. Theslidable wedge is held on the wall 24 by a portion 3| of the platemember and by a flange 32 struck inwardly from the back wall 22 of thecasing I1. The flange 32- overrides a portion 33 of the wedge. Thus,with the plate member 20 in position the wedge cannot fall out.

The plate member 2U is an important element of the keeper device in thatit carries the teeth 36 and 31 which engage the teeth 38 of themulti-toothed latch bolt I2. The plate 20 is substantially C-shaped inconstruction and has several oountersunk holes therein in alignment withthe holes in the casing on frame member I1 to receive the screws I5. Theplate member 20 is rigidly fastened to the frame member I1 as bywelding.

It will be understood that the latch bolt is freely rotatable in aclockwise direction as the door is moved from an open to a closedposition. As the door is moved to a closed position the teeth of thelatch bolt will strike and mesh with the tooth 36 of the keeper devicefirst. This tooth 36 represents the safety locking position, and if forany reason the door is not fully closed the latch bolt will be held bythis tooth against any inadvertent opening movement. When the door isfully closed the tooth 31 of the keeper will engage a pair of teeth ofthe latch bolt as clearly shown in Fig. 2. In order to provide keeperteeth of sufficient strength and durability to withstand the numerousimpacts of the latch bolt as the door is repeatedly opened and closedand to firmly resist any shear stresses, the keeper teeth are formed asintegral parts of the plate 20. As clearly shown in Fig. 3, the plate 20is of much heavier stock than that used to form the frame member I1. Theonly direct load the frame member carries is that transmitted throughthe slidable wedge 2| to the wall 24. The wedge 2| has a laterallyextending portion Ela overlying and slidingly engaging an upper edgeportion 34 of the plate member 20 so that this portion of the platemember together with the vertical flange 21 aid in carrying this load.

The load on the slidable wedge 2| referred to in the preceding paragraphis that which results from the wedge acting as a take-up means toprevent movement of the vehicle door in a vertical plane while thevehicle is in motion. This slidable wedge 2| cooperates with an abutmentmember on the door. This member comprises a casing 39 which is rigidlyfastened to the rotary latch mechanism selvage plate I3 and whichembraces the lower portion of the bolt I2. The bottom wall 40 of thecasing 39 is arcuate in shape and is adapted to engage a correspondinglyshaped curved upper surface 4| of the wedge member 2| when the door isclosed.

It will be apparent from the foregoing construction that on closing thedoor the cooperative engagement of the curved bottom wall 40 of thecasing 39 with the correspondingly shaped curved upper surface 4I of theslidable wedge 2| will result in taking up any play between the latchbolt and keeper tooth 31, thus ensuring tight and nal engagement of thebolt and striker when the door is closed and also that there will besubstantially no movement of the door in a vertical direction while thevehicle is in motion.

The latch bolt keeper device, generally designated as 50, constructed inaccordance with the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 4and 5 has the same three major elements that the keeper device I0hereinbefore described has, i. e., a frame member 5I, a plate member 52,and a slidable wedge 53. However, the frame member 5I of the keeper 50is preferably a die casting of metal, although it will be understoodthat the part could be molded from a plastic material. The frame memberas so formed comprises a lower or base portion 54 and an upper oroverhanging portion 55 which are joined by a vertical back wall 56 and avertical end wall 51. Thus, the frame member 5I is substantiallyC-shaped in construction and is installed on the body pillar so that theopening of the C faces outwardly to receive the rotary latch bolt on thedoor.

The overchanging or upper portion 55 of the frame member 5I is recessedas at 58 to receive the metal plate member 52. The plate member hasformed thereon the keeper teeth 59 and 60 which project inwardly anddownwardly into the frame opening where they are in position to beengaged by the multi-toothed latch bolt I2 on the door. The tooth 59functions, as does the tooth 36 of the keeper device I0, in providing asafety locking position. The plate member 52 is located with respect tothe frame member 5I by two dowel pins 52a, and is then securely weldedthereto.

The top of the lower or base portion 54 of the frame member 5| providesa surface 6I on which the wedge 53 is slidable. The wedge is guided inits sliding movement by a rod 62 secured at one end to an abutment 63 onthe frame member 5I and at its other end to the end wall 51. In order toresiliently urge the wedge member 53 in an outward direction along itssupporting surface 6I, a spring 64 is mounted on the rod 62 and extendsinto a recess 65 in the wedge, the spring being interposed between thebase of the recess and the end wall 51.

The latch keeper device 50 functions similarly to the latch keeperdevice I0 in cooperating with the multi-toothed latch bolt in holdingthe door closed and against movement in a vertical plane. It is fastenedto the jamb face I I by screws I5 as in the case of the keeper device IUexcept that only three screws are required.

aidera/,bed

"Both ofthe embodiments offt'helatch keeper device herein presented havethe advantage fthat the frame member may be produced by inexpensivemethods ywhile producing la stronger and more desirable structure. The"frame member merely serves the purpose of locating andholding the platemember having the'keeper Vteeth thereon'in the properrelationshiptotheslidablewedge. It is not necessary for the frame member.tolbe structurally strong or to have high '-anti'frictio'n wearqualities. The keeper teeth absorb .the greatest wear and strain fromthe impact fand friction of the rotary latch bolt teeth. If vthe entirekeeper deviceincluding the "-keeperteeth were to be fabricatedfromlightguage metal, the teeth could notbe made strong enough and theforming of the teeth would present a diiiicult problem. Moreover, if theentire'keeper device is formed as a die casting or of molded plastic.the keeper device would not possess the .strength to withstand as highimpact stresses as the present keeper device and furthermore would nothave Vas good wear qualities.

The present invention alleviates the recited disadvantages. Thenon-stress, non-wearing frame member of the v-keeperfdevice is lproducedfrom a metal stamping, a die casting ora-plastic molding. The keeperteeth which must be stress and wear resistant are formed on a heavyguage metal plate which is conveniently fastened to the frame member.The device as thus constructed is inexpensive, wear resistant, andhighly efficient in use.

I claim:

1. A keeper structure adapted to be fastened to a body for cooperativeengagement with a pair of relatively fixed vertically spaced doorabutment members carried on a swinging door, one of said abutmentmembers being a rotatable toothed member and the other being formed as acurved casing embracing the lower portion of the other of said abutmentmembers while leaving the upper portion of the latter exposed,comprising a generally C-shaped body having upper and lower generallyhorizontal body portions spaced apart vertically to provide an openingclosed at one side by a vertical portion of the body rigidly connectingsaid upper and lower spaced portions, a wedge, means slidably mountingsaid wedge within said opening above the upper surface of said lowerbody portion, spring means urging said wedge outwardly, the upper sideof said wedge having a curved surface engageable by said curved casingand offering progressively increasing resistance to the passage of saidcurved casing thereover, the upper surface of said lower body portionproviding a surface upon which the wedge is slidable between suchsurface and the lower of said door abutment members in wedging relationtherebetween, and a plate member rigidly fastened to said body at oneside thereof and having spaced, tooth-like projections depending belowthe lower surface of the upper body portion for cooperation with theupper of said door abutment members, said projections and said uppersurface of the lower body portion being held by said body in xedvertically spaced relation.

2. A keeper structure adapted to be fastened to a body for cooperativeengagement with a pair of relatively fixed vertically spaced doorabutment members carried on a swinging door, comprising a frame memberhaving upper and lower generally parallel body portions spaced apartvertically to provide an opening closed at 6. its finner A"side fbyan-inner'vwall portion and lat one endby an end wall portion rigidlyconnecting'sai'dupperA and lower spaced portions, a generally'C-ishapedplate member also having upper and lower generally parallel bodyportions spaced apart 'verticallyto provide an opening closedat one sidel'by a vertical lportion 'connecting `said upper andlower body'portions,said plate'member beingV rigidly fastened to said frame member .at oneside thereof, a wedge-means-slidably'retaining'said wedge within saidopening above .the upper surface-f said frame member lower bcdyportion.Yand spring means' urging said wedge outwardly,1'th`e upper surface ofsaid frame memv'berllowerfbody portion-providing a surface uponWhichthelwe'dge is slidable between such surfaceandthe lower'of saiddoor abutment membersiinwedging'relation therebetween, said upper "bodyportion of theplate member having spaced, tooth-like Aprojectionsdepending below the lower fsurface lof the frame member vupperbodyportion v'for Y cooperation with the upper Yof said door vabutmentmembers, said projections and said upper surface lof the frame memberlower'body portion being heldby the rigid fasteningvvoftheplatemember tothevframe member` in xedrveiftically Yspaced relation.

3. A keeper structure adapted to be fastened to a body for cooperativeengagement with a pair of relatively xed vertically spaced door abutmentmembers carried on a swinging door, comprising a frame member having abase portion and an overhanging portion spaced apart vertically toprovide an opening closed at its inner side and at one end by a backwall and an end wall rigidly connecting said base and overhangingportions, a wedge, means slidably mounting said wedge within saidopening above the upper surface of said base portion, spring meansurging said wedge outwardly, the upper surface of said base portionproviding a surface upon which the wedge is slidable between suchsurface and the lower of said door abutment members in wedging relationtherebetween, and a plate member rigidly fastened to a recessed portionat one side of the overhanging frame portion, said plate member havingspaced, toothlike projections depending below the lower surface of theoverhanging frame portion for cooperation with the upper of said doorabutment members, said projections and said upper surface of the baseportion being held by said frame member in fixed vertically spacedrelation.

4. A keeper structure a-dapted to be fastened to a body for cooperativeengagement with a pair of relatively fixed vertically spaced doorabutment members carried on a swinging door, comprising a frame memberhaving a rear wall connecting an upper and lower wall and an end wall,the upper and lower :walls having flanges extending outwardly therefromin a plane normal to the planes thereof, a plate member having generallyparallel upper and lower body por-tions spaced apart vertically toprovide an opening closed at one side by a vertical portion connectingsaid upper and lower body portions, said plate lmember upper and lowerbody portions being rigidly fastened to the flanges of said upper andlower walls so as to .be positioned at one side of the frame member, thevertical portion of the plate member being in juxtaposed relation tosaid end wall, a wedge, means slidably retaining said wedge on the uppersurface of said lower wall, and spring means urging said wedgeoutwardly, sai-d upper surface of the lower wall providing a surfaceupon which the wedge is slidable between such surface and the lower ofsaid door abutment members in wedging relation therebetween, said upperpor-tion of the plate member having spaced, tooth-like projectionsdepending bel-ow the lower surface lof sai-d upper wall for cooperationwithr the upper of said door abutment members, said projections and saidupper surface of the lower wall -being held by said fra-me member infixed vertically spaced relation.

5. A keeper structure adapted -to .be fastened to a body for cooperativeengagement with a pair of relatively xed vertically spaced door abutmentmem-bers carried on a swinging door, one of said abutment members beinga rotatable toothed member and the other being formed as a ycurvedcasing embracing the lower yportion of the other of said abutmentmembers while leaving the upper -portion of the latter exposed,comprising a generally C-shaped body having upper and lower generallyhorizontal body portions spaced apart vertically to provide an openingclosed at one side by a vertical portion of the body rigidly connectingsaid upper and lower spaced portions, a Wedge, means slidably mountingsaid Wedge within said opening above the upper surface of sai-d lowerbody portion, spring means urging said wedge outwardly, the upper sideof said wedge having a curved surface engageable by said cu-rved casingand offering progressively increasing ,resistance to the passage of saidcurved casing thereover, the upper surface of said lower body portionproviding a surface upon which the wedge is slidable between suchsurface and the lower of said door abutment members in wedging relationtherebetween, sai-d 'body having spaced tooth-like projections dependingbelow the l-ower surface of the upper body portion for cooperation withthe upper of said door abutment members, said projections and -saidupper surface of the lower body portion .being held by said body infixed vertically spaced relation.

JOHN H. ROETHEL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,738,338 Wells Dec. 3, 19292,156,874 Schonitzer May 2, 1939 2,231,075 Lakin Feb. 11, 1941 2,499,165Roethel Feb. 28, 1950

